Anandi – YES I like that I am using up all the terrible wrapping paper and random stuff my mother in law gave me. However, I haven’t been using it as a chance to practice – maybe I should because my advent book wrapping is TERRIBLE!

Speaking of traditions, I bought a new ornament this year for each of us…our tree is usually decked with handmade and/or yard-sale goods, but I thought it would be a nice surprise to hang something personal to each kid & parent.

We love Raymond Briggs’ _The Snowman_. It’s also a picture book, and the animated version made me cry…totally caught me off-guard. But we all love it nonetheless.

I just looked on Amazon, and yes, Wombat Divine (I love that title) is available. Thanks for the recommendation!

@CNM – nice! I like the idea of starting my own traditions. I got everyone monogrammed Christmas stockings this year. I like the idea of pulling out something special year after year.

@Alissa – the one downside of my version is that we will have to take turns (3 of the 4 kids – the baby neither knows nor cares). I am bracing myself for the fighting that will ensue if one day’s book seems bigger or cooler than another day’s book. But I just can’t stomach 3 sets of books. Expensive and triple the wrapping!

As much as the wrapping part is annoying, I like that it:

1. Gives me practice to upgrade my abysmal wrapping skills. I am REALLY bad at it.

2. Lets me use up the horrible/cheap wrapping paper that we bought by accident.

3. Forces me to get into the holiday spirit early since they have to be wrapped before Dec 1 🙂